A Look at Contemporary Church Affirmations
There is a song and dance that has been a big thing in 2015
called Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae). It is a fun song so my comments are in no way
meant to address the song or dance. It
came to mind as I read certain church leaders descriptions. The repeated WATCH ME in the song seems to be
something repeated in the contemporary church and receives great applause and
affirmation.
It isn’t the idea of follow me as I follow Christ, but watch
ME. Here is a list of accomplishments
which seem similar to a list of credentials a businessman or businesswoman
would present on their resume. For
example: (Names changed)
Smitty, Lead Pastor, has spent his adult life helping
churches achieve remarkable growth. In 35 years of ministry Smitty has appeared
numerous times on the “top 50” list for youth evangelism (out of 40,000+
churches nationwide), including two years in a row at number one. He has helped
to guide church health and growth work around the world. Smitty says, “I have
no doubt there is not another church in this region better positioned, or with
more potential to reach irreligious people. I am 100% committed to helping us
become even more effective.”
Bojangles brings many years of experience not only as a
worship pastor, but as a man that has been repeatedly and catalytically used by
God for church growth. Most recently he was one of the founders of Emerge Student
Ministries of Hotsun, Arizona. Before that he was one of the instrumental people
God used to grow a church of 300 to over 900 in approximately one year.
Throughout twenty years of ministry he has been catalytic in the growth and
health of several other churches.
Additional info from the Staff page. Smitty loves to teach and communicate God’s
word in ways that help people connect with, and live out Scripture. His
combined pastoral/teaching/evangelistic and consulting ministry spans 37 years,
where he has served at and led some of the largest ministries in America.
The accomplishment of “growth” is mentioned. The definition of growth can be either
numerical or spiritual, and it could be both.
The numerical appears to have the main place in the excerpts for the web
page above. This growth is related to
church so it is assumed to be spiritual, but that is a dangerous
assumption. Think about your own
spiritual growth was it rapid like a mushroom or slow like an oak? There are times of healthy rapid growth over
the course of church history, but it is more often a slow process of learning,
practice and experience with God.
Bojangles is said to have been used of God to grow a church of 300 to
over 900 in about a year. Which is
highlighted numerical or spiritual growth?
The spiritual does seem to be assumed in the numerical, but probably
ought not be.
Smitty loves to teach and communicate God’s word so that is
spiritual, right? It may. Over the years of meeting preacher types
there are those who love to preach. That
means exactly that. They love to be in
the spotlight. They enjoy the
attention. They want to be the main
speaker. They love to preach. Many are highly talented communicators and
crowd gatherers. There is a place in the
Body of Christ for everyone’s skills and abilities. But it is when ego enters in that things get
shifted. It smacks of the WATCH ME approach. I don’t know if Smitty is this way or not I am
just using the write up on him to make a point.
Our fundamental reality is to love God and people. The preacher out of love of God and love of
people communicates by preaching and other ways in order to connect people to
God and real relationships with others.
Like Jeremiah God’s Word is like a fire in the preacher’s bones and he
must speak. And it is God’s Word that
points us to an experiential relationship with God. What
if in church we substituted a knowledge of the Bible and application of it
according to our own interests? It isn’t
quite as dynamic as an experiential relationship with the living God, but it is
something done before. The practice of
the Pharisees was to connect with the Scripture and live it out. Jesus appreciated their desire to be in the
Word, but did question their heart and that they denied the power of God. Back to Smitty. Smitty we are told on the church staff page
loves to teach and communicate God’s word in ways that help people connect
with, and live out Scripture. What is
missing? Relationship with God. Experiential connection with God. Maybe that is assumed in the idea of living
out Scripture. I am cautiously
optimistic.
So what if the church advertised as though Jesus was really
something? What if we applauded those
who walked with Him faithfully even though imperfectly? What if we affirmed what God affirms as right
and good and worthwhile? I wonder what
church websites and brochures might look like.
Two songs came to mind.
The first, as you know, Watch Me,
and the second, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. Here are the links if you would like to
compare for yourself. (Watch Me is a cute video and it is only
the idea of watch me as a self-centered thing that I have been focusing
on. Have fun and check it out.)
Watch Me
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
No comments:
Post a Comment